Country artist Garth Brooks, 64, shared an emotive tribute to the late Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, thanking him for helping to pave the road for his ongoing success by allowing him to perform the first-ever concert at the iconic Notre Dame Stadium.
Although Holtz coached at Notre Dame from 1986 to 1996, what would become Brooks’ 4-year “Stadium Tour” would have never been made possible without the beloved coach allowing him to ignite the tour with a blueprint performance at Notre Dame.
Holtz sadly passed away on Wednesday, March 4, according to a statement shared on his official X account. Brooks, in turn, posted a lengthy message on his website, expressing how grateful he is for Holtz to have allowed him to perform on the college football field.
Garth Brooks Remembers Lou Holtz’s Influence on His Career
“Garth’s concert at Notre Dame was a true first – and not only for him. Nearly 90 years after The Fighting Irish played their first game there, Garth’s concert became the first concert event ever held on the fabled field. And the moment had Holtz’s endorsement!” the statement from Brooks’ website reads.
The statement continued, “The coaching icon – who knew firsthand what an iconic Notre Dame crowd sounded like – was so excited by the idea that he flew to Nashville and stood at Garth’s side when the event was announced. ‘Never Before is about to happen,’ he reminded those gathered, adding, ‘To be able to bring all of the enthusiasm and enjoyment to people by having a concert with Garth Brooks, I think, is long overdue.’”
At the time, Brooks shared in Holtz’s excitement alongside him in Nashville, saying, “Every gig you take, you take it as if you never get to play another gig again. This one fits perfect. They could’ve chose anyone. And I’m very proud for us, I’m very proud for the people that allow us to be an artist, and most of all I’m proud for country music.”
Garth Brooks Returned to Notre Dame Stadium in 2022
The famed country artist’s heartfelt nod to Holtz ended by highlighting his remarkable 50-year career in college football, saying, “Louis Leo ‘Lou’ Holtz – a Hall of Famer and one of the most respected figures in athletics – led several college programs over a five-decade career…transforming every team he inherited and capturing the 1988 National Championship with The Fighting Irish during his decade at Notre Dame.”
After playing at Notre Dame Stadium in 2018, Brooks returned to the stadium in May 2022 — a promise he made during his first performance at the legendary sporting venue, Parade reported.
According to the death announcement on Holtz’s X account, the respected coach transformed football programs at colleges, including William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina. Holtz passed away at the age of 89, surrounded by his loved ones in Orlando, Florida. He is survived by four children, nine grandchildren, and two great‑grandchildren.
